A Vent about the Fresh Air Fund

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

I will give the back story:

I grew up in a decent home and during the summer, our neighbors had children staying with them for a few weeks each summer. The children came from inner-cities in NY. They would come to "country setting" homes. I always enjoyed seeing my new friends every summer and told myself that I would love to be involved with this program when I got older.

Fast forward to February 2009. I now have a 17 yo DD and a 6 yo DS, a home in "the country" (not really, but I do live in VT and nothing is city-like)
I discussed the program with my family and we decided we would like to host a child this summer for 2 weeks.
I contacted the organization and spoke to a nice woman about the program. We spoke for about 30 minutes and she answered all my questions. She directed me to a website to fill in my info and a local representative would contact me and conduct a home and background check.
About a week after I filled out the web info, I received a call from a local rep. We spoke for about 2 minutes and arranged to have a meeting in my home the next day. She came and checked out my home. She then told me that she needed to meet my children, I said fine. (even though it would have been nice for her to mention that the night before- they were both gone)
We set an appt for the next week. I got out of work early (to fit into her schedule) and my kids and I waited for her...no show. I called after 30 minutes or so of waiting and I got her voice mail. I left her a message and she called back saying she forgot...
We scheduled a new appt for the following week...you guessed it- I got out of work early again, waited with the kids...nothing. I left her another message and this time she never called back. I left another message, nothing.
I got a call in April from the main office in New York City, they wanted to let me know that I passed all the checks and I was good to go.
I let them know that I was not happy with the local rep and that she forgot two appts (that I lost wages for)and know I was weary about the program because I didn't want to get my children excited about a child coming to stay with us, and then the local rep ditches us...
The Main office was great and I let the know that I may still be interested in the program for next year, but this year...I was a bit turned off. I even expressed interest in doing a more organizational role due to this fiasco with me. The main office was very receptive, even though I was told that my local rep has been "doing this for years", but they would speak to her.
Today, I get a call from the local rep. She sounded agitated to begin with and she asked me if I was still interested. I told her that I was a bit disappointed that she no showed for 2 appts with me. She claimed that she didn't have appts with me, and she had been leaving me messages for months. She said she is a busy stay at home mom (she mentioned in her first/ and only meeting with me, that her kids are almost adults...huh??) and she was trying to accomodate me and I was going to disappoint a child because I backed out at the last minute. (I selected on the web form to take a child in for the last two weeks in August, I declined in April).
After me trying to calmly explain that while I was not satisfied with her, but I thought the program was great and I would like to give it another try next year...SHE HUNG UP ON ME!!!
I think my jaw is still hanging on the floor! I cannot believe this woman is representing such a great organization. I am now more determined than ever to help this program out in my area next year, I just hope no other people have to be treated the way I was...
Anyway...I just needed to vent!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

That sounds horrible. It really is a great organization and its wonderful that you want to help.

My mom was a fresh air fund kid. Once she grew up and had her own family she tried to host a child. She had the same little girl for 2 summers in a row but my older DSis did not do well with the attention being split. Seems my older DSis was too mean! DMom had to stop having her after 2 summers (fresh air fund kid - not dsis ). My mom still complains about that almost 40 years later.

I hope you are able to assist in some way.

 

[dogluva]

I don't think you should base the organization on the local rep. Our rep is really good and provided a lot of support. I hosted a girl for years until last year when I decided I had to work in the summers. I really missed it. The girl is great.

You should do it next year. You might not want to do two weeks right away. I did one week the first year and ten days the second, two the third and five weeks the fourth! I think two weeks might be too much for you the first year. Just my opinion.

It really is a great organization.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

That's aweful! I would call headquarters again and talk to someone up the chain.